Greece’s health sector could see an injection of over €200 million ($245 million) after a deal signed on Wednesday between the government and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation.
Wednesday’s memorandum of understanding will see the foundation fund four major infrastructure interventions across Greece as well as buying new medical equipment.
Among the planned projects are: a new building for Komotini General Hospital in northern Greece; a children’s hospital in Thessaloniki; new equipment for Greece’s air ambulance service plus educational programs “regarding hospital infections and the treatment of trauma”.
Planning for this scheme began in September 2017 and saw months of consultation between the foundation and the Greek Health Ministry.
The deal was signed by Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and the foundation’s Co-President Andreas Dracopoulos after a meeting with Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos.
In a statement, Dracopoulos said: “Access to healthcare is a basic and fundamental need for every citizen, and we feel fortunate and proud to be able to continue supporting a better and more effective public health system and a more just society.”
Wednesday’s new grant initiative follows a previous $15-million foundation payment to Greece’s National Center for Emergency Care.
The foundation has provided grants of more than $130 million since 1996 for the support of health programs in Greece.
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